From Charles Renard¹ 20 May 1870

Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. | Moscou,

le $\frac{8}{20}$ Mai 1870²

Monsieur

Vos travaux multipliés et utiles pour l’avancement de la science dont témoignent largement et pleinement Vos recherches nombreuses et importantes faites pendant le voyage de circumnavigation du Beagle, Vos observations géologiques sur les îles volcaniques, Votre monographie des Cirripèdes, Vos observations géologiques sur l’Amérique du Sud et. et. et enfin l’ouvrage, si justement celèbre sur l’origine des espéces, ont fait depuis long temps l’admiration de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.—³ Elle s’est donc procurée la satisfaction de Vous élire unanimement dans sa séance du 19 Février son membre honoraire et elle m’a chargé de Vous en envoyer le diplome qui va suivre demain ces quelques lignes.—⁴

La Société Impériale des Naturalistes qui possède une bibliothèque très riche, uniquement le resultat des dons de ses membres et de ses relations litéraires (aucune somme est fixée et employée pour son augmentation) serait tres charmée si Vous étiez dans le cas de lui faire parvenir quelquesunes de Vos publications dont Vous pouvez encore disposer.—

Agréez, je Vous prie, Monsieur, l’expression de la plus haute et de la plus parfaite considération avec laquelle j’ai l’honneur d’être | Monsieur | Votre tout dévoué serviteur | Dr. Renard | sécretaire de la Société I. des Naturalistes

Mon adresse: Son Excellence, M. le Conseiller d’état actuel | Dr. Ch^s. Renard. | Moscou. Miloutinskoe Peréoulok, maison Askarkhanoff.

à Monsieur le Professeur Charles Darwin à Londres.

Footnotes

1

For a translation of this letter, see Correspondence vol. 18, Appendix I.

2

Renard gives both the Julian (8 May) and Gregorian (20 May) calendar dates.

3

Renard refers to Living Cirripedia (1851), Living Cirripedia (1854), Fossil Cirripedia (1851), Fossil Cirripedia (1854); he also alludes to Journal of researches, Volcanic islands, South America, and Origin.

4

The diploma is in DAR 229: 23. See Appendix III.

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Fossil Cirripedia (1851): A monograph on the fossil Lepadidæ, or, pedunculated cirripedes of Great Britain. By Charles Darwin. London: Palaeontographical Society. 1851.

Fossil Cirripedia (1854): A monograph of the fossil Balanidæ and Verrucidæ of Great Britain. By Charles Darwin. London: Palaeontographical Society. 1854.

Journal of researches: Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by HMS Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy, RN, from 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Henry Colburn. 1839.

Living Cirripedia (1851): A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Lepadidæ; or, pedunculated cirripedes. By Charles Darwin. London: Ray Society. 1851.

Living Cirripedia (1854): A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Balanidæ (or sessile cirripedes); the Verrucidæ, etc. By Charles Darwin. London: Ray Society. 1854.

South America: Geological observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1846.

Volcanic islands: Geological observations on the volcanic islands, visited during the voyage of HMS Beagle, together with some brief notices on the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Being the second part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy RN, during the years 1832 to 1836. By Charles Darwin. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1844.

Translation

From Charles Renard¹ 20 May 1870

Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. | Moscow,

$\frac{8}{20}$ May 1870²

Dear Sir

Your extensive and useful work for the advancement of science, to which Your wide-ranging and important research carried out on the circumnavigatory voyage of the Beagle, Your geological observations on volcanic islands, Your monograph on the Cirripedes, Your geological observations on South America &. &. and lastly the work on the origin of species that is so justly famous, bear broad and ample witness, has been admired by the Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou for a long time.—³ The society has therefore obtained the satisfaction of electing You unanimously as its honorary member at its meeting of 19th February, and it has charged me with sending You its diploma, which will follow these few lines tomorrow.—⁴

The Société Impériale des Naturalistes, which owns a very rich library, the product solely of its members’ gifts and of its literary connections (no funds are set aside or employed for its augmentation) would be delighted if You were able to send it some of Your publications which You may still have available.—

Please accept, dear Sir, the expression of my highest and most perfect consideration, with which I have the honour to be | Sir | Your most devoted servant | Dr. Renard | secretary of the I. Société des Naturalistes

My address: His Excellency, the current Councillor of State | Dr. Ch^s. Renard. | Moscow. Miloutinskoe Peréoulok, house of Askarkhanoff.

to Professor Charles Darwin, London.

Footnotes

1

For a transcription of this letter in its original French, see Transcript.